Segun Olatunji, the editor of FirstNews, has been released after a two-week ordeal in captivity. Olatunji was abducted from his Lagos residence on March 15 by unidentified armed men who identified themselves as officers of the Nigerian Army.
Olatunji was flown from Lagos to Abuja in a blindfold and cuffs. The circumstances surrounding his abduction remain unclear. It was reported on March 27 that the journalist was in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja.
Following Olatunji’s disappearance, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria condemned the abduction, calling it an attack on press freedom.
Olatunji told local press after he reunited with his family and colleagues on Thursday that those in the “corridors of power” were behind his abduction over some stories published by FirstNews.
The Nigerian government has yet to comment on Olatunji’s abduction or release. However, it is likely to face renewed pressure to ensure the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
